Initiatives to provide access

Access to FDA is provided through a wide range of programmes and
activities such as public participation, information and outreach programmes,
community-based programmes and public health initiatives. All the programmes and
activities are designed to inform consumers about the safety and effectiveness
of products the agency regulates. They are targeted to reach all consumers,
including Hispanics, African Americans, youth, women, older individuals and the
handicapped. The information presented is designed to emphasize messages
relevant to the unique health aspects of products regulated by FDA.

Under public participation programmes, national and local
meetings are held to enable a broad spectrum of key consumer leaders,
individuals and interested organizations to discuss their views with agency
officials. At the local level these meetings are referred to as "consumer
exchange meetings". Information is provided on public health problems in which
FDA is involved or on proposed Federal Register announcements that ask
for comment within a specified time frame. Consumers are encouraged to submit
written views, to testify at public meetings or to present the consumer
perspective at agency advisory committee meetings. Since public participation is
a two-way process, information of high interest to consumers is provided to them
and they in turn communicate their views, attitudes and reactions to FDA. In
this process, consumer opinions are considered in the policy-making decisions at
FDA.

Meetings are also convened with consumer leaders, individual
consumers and FDA key personnel at the local and national levels for in-depth
discussion of health and policy issues important to FDA or consumer
representatives. From these meetings FDA is able to determine areas of consumer
support for or conflict with agency policy. Local grassroots issues and concerns
are also identified. The results are improved understanding and communication,
if not agreement, between FDA and consumers and a greater balance in FDA's
decision-making process. These meetings require careful preparation and
identification of suitable topics and appropriate agency and consumer
participants.

Since the enactment of the Federal Advisory Committee Act in
1972, FDA has provided consumers with the opportunity to serve as members on its
advisory committees and panels. Currently, consumers serve on 36 of these
advisory bodies. The consumer representatives on advisory committees provide the
agency with the consumer perspective on many policy and health issues that
affect the public.

The consumer constituency interacting with FDA is a diverse
group. It includes organizations that represent a broad spectrum of national and
local interests, such as the Consumer Federation of America, the American
Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and the National Consumers League. These
organizations often participate in joint projects with FDA, industry and health
professional groups to further consumer protection goals.

Printed material such as brochures, pamphlets and press releases
as well as "talk papers" and "backgrounders" which provide more detailed
information are used to convey FDA's message to the public. These publications
are developed by the Office of Public Affairs. Reprinted articles from the
magazine FDA Consumer are also used.

All field public affairs specialists work with the electronic
and print media. Several of them have weekly or monthly programmes highlighting
FDA activities or appear as regular guests on radio and television programmes.
As a result, more and more consumers are getting the word on important health
and safety issues. The format for media interaction varies depending on the
demographic characteristics of the area. The benefit of working with the media
cannot be overemphasized: public affairs specialists reach millions of consumers
who may not get FDA's message any other way. It is the greatest way to reach the
most people in the shortest
time.